Historical Amnesia

I shared in the jubilation of our country when Noynoy Aquino won in the presidential elections in May 2010. Amidst that victory, I didn’t fail to notice that Imelda Marcos got a seat in the House of Representatives, her son Bongbong was elected a senator, and her daughter Imee was voted governor. I just shook my head in disbelief. In a way I kept my silence as though I was perfectly resigned to our countrymen’s historical amnesia. As I was being overcome by this amnesia (due in part to the fact that I am abroad), it suddenly occurred to me that EDSA 1 celebrated its 25th anniversary.

I almost thought that it was “just another day” had it not for the news that the Marcoses have resurrected their insistence that Ferdinand Marcos be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Isn’t it that the late dictator’s family had plans of burying him in one of their properties in Ilocos Norte? Why does the family now want his remains to be interred in that cemetery? Is it because now that they are back in power they feel as though they have been vindicated (and thus a Marcos burial is in the offing)? Perhaps burying Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani would be an icing to their (return to power) cake, wouldn’t it?

What annoys me is how unrepentant these Marcoses have been and how forgiving we are as a nation. We idolize them, we invite them to our community celebrations, and we vote them to public office! Don’t we have had enough of them? Perhaps those who have known them today may have been deprived of who these Marcoses really are, how they have abused their authority, and how they treated the country’s coffers with impunity. Perhaps those who once fought against the Marcoses are either dead or have been fed up with our political system.

It annoys me too that P-Noy, instead of putting his foot down on the issue, has delegated such responsibility to someone else. He felt that someone neutral would be able to make objective recommendations which he will implement. I agree with Emil Jurado who pointed out that P-Noy is not only the president of the "Yellow horde", but of the entire nation.

With all due respect, Mr President, can I just remind you that your mother faced a similar issue when she was president. However, she was (wo)man enough to make a decision of not allowing Marcos’ remains flown home. Like you, your mother was seen as being partial to the burial issue because of what her deceased husband (your father) went through under the Marcos dictatorship. Yet, she was aware that she was not only Cory the Martyr’s Widow. Over and above that, she was Cory the President. Some people say that she was vindictive, but I’m one of those who would say she acted out of prudence and care for the country. Her decision was even challenged up to the Supreme Court with it eventually voting in her favour.

I hope and pray that Vice President Jojo Binay who was tasked to study this burial issue, would consider the impact if Marcos is allowed to be buried in that place where the remains of personalities likes Carlos P. Garcia, Diosdado Macapagal, Salvador Laurel, Carlos P. Romulo, and Haydee Yorac are interred.

To allow his burial in such a venerable site would be tantamount to accepting him as a hero; a dictator who was an angel (Is there one at all?). Obviously it would be a slap on the face of the many victims of Martial Law. Mr Binay should be aware of that since he used to provide legal assistance for the victims of Martial Law abuses.

It would be making fun of whatever is left of the EDSA 1 spirit, i.e. our united front to drive Marcos and his minions out power and bring that kind of change which the country badly needs. It would also serve as a cue for the likes of Joseph Estrada and Gloria Arroyo (and their scions) to further make a fool out of the electorate – they have done already with the former running as second place in the presidential race while the latter winning a congressional seat.

Unless we rise up from our historical amnesia, our country will always see the same politicians, the same selfish people taking the lead. It’s high time we make these remorseless people understand that forgiveness should be done in the context of justice. The Marcoses may have been back, but that doesn’t mean they are free from any legal obligations to the victims of their excesses.

It’s high time we wake up! It’s high time we make others, especially the young, aware of what really happened in the past lest they be condemned to repeat where we have failed.

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Words that every Filipino should ponder and live (in the hope of recovering from historical amnesia):

I will hate the ways of the crooked; they shall not be my friends. The false-hearted must keep far away; the wicked I disown...No man who practices deceit shall live in my house. No man who utters lies shall stand before my eyes.(Psalm 100)

Ninoy forever! Marcos NEVER!!!!!(Anti-Marcos protest slogan, 1983)